“But mommy, it’s my favorite Strawberry girl!”
Lucia, my third daughter , pleaded clinging tightly to the little figurine in her hands – a small Strawberry Shortcake dolly that apparently was held close to her heart.
Beside my daughter, on the messy-homeschool-strewn dining room table, sat her Christmas shoebox, which we were nearly done filling.
Filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is a tradition for us – and it’s always been something that I have found very important to do with the girls. We have had the shoeboxes filled for weeks but have had them sitting in the kitchen, waiting to be wrapped and packaged shut. Somehow during the rush of the week, the ever-curious toddler in our house must have stuffed one of Lucia’s strawberry shortcake dolls into the box that Lucia was to pack. Now, as it was time to tape up the boxes and wrap and finish up the project, Lucia had discovered one of her prize toys inside the package destined to go overseas. And she was not ready to let that toy go …
I looked down at my healthy, vibrant four year old … surrounded by a home full of love, toys, food, warmth and family. How could my little Lucia, who is only four, picture children and families living on the streets, homeless, without food or any extras in life, children who possibly have no food, no hope, no future … how could she know that something as small and simple as her packed shoebox would bring beautiful joy to a little girl’s heart for Christmas day? That she was showing Jesus’ love by sending a small box across the ocean?
I sat the girls down and pulled up Focus on the Family. Just a few days ago, I had heard this amazing testimony of a young girl, now grown, who had received a Shoebox one Christmas … that shoebox changed her life. I cried the entire time while she read her story … and I just knew it would touch the girls’ hearts as well.
Please if you get a second, listen to this clip … and listen to it with your children. {Start at 28:28 to just listen to the clip about the simple gift of the shoebox.}
The girls were quiet. Lacey had tears in her eyes. And, well, I can’t help but cry when I hear these stories …
Then, the girls and I also watched this video … and when Lucia e saw where Ralph lived … her little eyes squinted.
“Is that garbage, mommy?”
“Yes, it is …” {I couldn’t even watch the video would tears streaming down my face.}
She sat up taller at the table and opened her hands, offering up her prized pink and red, plastic Strawberry Shortcake doll.
“Put it in the box, mommy.”
Squeezing Lucia with a big hug, I told her how God would be so proud of her. Something simple, yet isn’t this how we are to live? I wondered to myself, what Strawberry Shortcake toy God is asking me to give up this Christmas? Am I doing enough to help others?
It’s way too easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas (one HUGE reason I am so glad we do not have t.v. – no one sees the advertisements or commercials and, in turn, are not tempted or persuaded that they ‘must have’ the newest toy or item that is hot on the shelves for this year}. It’s just STUFF. The Bible says that it will all be tossed away anyways. When you die, it’s just left behind. Are we, instead, spreading joy and love this holiday season (and all year long!)?
Lyla asked if we could pray over the boxes before we shipped them out … so they all bowed their heads and prayed that the little girls and boys who were receiving the boxes would know they are loved and that something as simple as Lucia’s strawberry Shortcake Dolly would bring joy to their hearts.
By the way, did you know you can pack a Shoebox online? How great is that!
Follow this link and you’ll find an easy way to send a box with just a click!
P.S. Orangeville residents!!!!!!!!!!! Another fabulous way we can help LOCALLY is by helping out our Orangeville Food Bank! This, too, is VERY easy to do.
For the next month and a half, Kraft Canada is running a program that will donate $0.50 to the food for every name submitted online! It’s very simple to do. All you have to do is add your name and select which food bank you want the money to go and the money is sent to the Orangeivlle Food Bank! Just click here!
Also, the food bank that raises the most signatures by December 31st will received an extra $5,000!
You can add your name every day from now till December 31! Talk about an easy, simple way to help others.
Please help share the joy this Christmas …
…after all, it’s like our grandmas always tell us … it’s better to give than to receive.
by Gigi
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